The Ministry of Health reported two community cases here who are infected with the Omicron variant, the BA.2.12.1 sub-variant.

According to MOH’s report on 28 April, the two Omicron cases have since been self-isolating since testing positive for Covid.

MOH also added that the BA.2.12.1 sub-variant is not a variant under monitoring or on the list of variants of concern or interest of the World Health Organization.

The BA.2.12.1 sub-variant is a descendant of the BA.2 sub-variant, with both sub-variants coming from the Omicron variant.

A Singapore assessment book for Primary 2 students that teaches Mandarin has been recalled after an illustration of a “satanist” pentagram was found inside to teach students that Chinese word for “shape”.

The publisher of the assessment book, Marlinsons, has since apologised for the gaffe, which was first spotted and brought to light online where images from the assessment book was uploaded.

The pentagram was printed on a part of the book that teaches kids how to recognise the Chinese word “shape”.

The Hanyu Pinyin for the Chinese words were also printed on the page with the pentagram.

Speaking to Coconuts, Marlinsons said that they were not aware that the pentagram was a satanist symbol and the pledged to exercise greater care in future.

They said that they “pledge to exercise greater care and improve our quality inspection system to prevent such mistakes from being made in the future.”

The recall of the assessment books will also see all of the existing copies of it to be disposed.

Josephine Teo, the minister for communications and information, along with Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Denise Phua and former WP chief Low Thia Khiang, were awarded the DIstinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Award on 29 April by the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Here is what the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences said

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) tonight celebrated the achievements of five eminent alumni at the FASS Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Awards 2021, in recognition of their distinguished scholarship and outstanding service to the Faculty, the University and Singapore. 

Established since 2015, the 2021 award recipients include Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan, Mr Peter Tan; Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mrs Josephine Teo; Resident Playwright of The Necessary Stage, Mr Haresh Sharma; Mayor of Central Singapore District, Ms Denise Phua; and former Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party, Mr Low Thia Khiang. 

These outstanding recipients have also achieved excellence in various fields locally and internationally, which has contributed to the betterment and promotion of the arts and social sciences. Typically held annually, the 2021 awards ceremony was postponed to this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye said, “I would like to convey my heartiest congratulations to the five outstanding FASS alumni award recipients. These five individuals have contributed to Singapore in distinctive ways, and their passion, perseverance and pursuit of excellence serve as an inspiration to current and future generations of FASS students. NUS is proud to have them as our alumni, and I hope they will continue to maintain close ties with their alma mater and with FASS. There is much we can do together, to nurture and inspire the next generation of Singaporeans to realise their potential.” 

Professor Lionel Wee, Dean of the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, added, “The recipients of the FASS Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Award 2021 have all played pivotal roles both in Singapore and internationally. Be it through the arts, shaping of policies, diplomatic relations or community engagement, our alumni award recipients epitomise the FASS quality of being of service to the wider community. We are extremely proud of their achievements.” 

Recipients of the FASS Distinguished Arts and Social Sciences Alumni Award 2021 

Mr Peter Tan 

Mr Peter Tan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Japanese Studies from NUS in 1992. He was appointed Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan in September 2019. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Secretary for Southeast Asia and ASEAN in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) from January 2015 to September 2019. Mr Tan was the Singapore Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (concurrently accredited to Mongolia) from February 2011 to January 2015. Since joining the MFA in 1992, he has served in various capacities on issues related to Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, United Nations and Technical Cooperation. Mr Tan was awarded the Public Administration Medal (Silver) in 2008. 

Mrs Josephine Teo 

Minister Josephine Teo graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Economics from NUS in 1991, winning several honours including the Rachel Meyer Book Prize for being the Best Woman Student. She was appointed Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity on 15 May 2021. She is also a member of the National Jobs Council and the Future Economy Council, and has been concurrently the Second Minister for Home Affairs since May 2018. Formerly the Minister for Manpower from May 2018 till May 2021, Mrs Teo also previously served in the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Finance, Transport and Foreign Affairs ministries. A member of Parliament (MP) since 2006, she was formerly Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Education and Assistant Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress. 

Mr Haresh Sharma 

Mr Haresh Sharma graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Language and English Literature from NUS in 1990. Since becoming Resident Playwright of The Necessary Stage, he has written more than 120 plays which have been staged in over 20 cities. He has also written for National Day Parade as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Southeast Asian Games (2015). His play, Off Centre, was the first Singapore play selected by the Ministry of Education as a Literature text for the GCE N- and O-Levels. Mr Sharma is the first non-American to be awarded the prestigious Goldberg Master Playwright by New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2011. In 2014, he was conferred the Southeast Asian Writers Award (Singapore), which recognises and honours literary excellence in the ASEAN region. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2015. 

Ms Denise Phua 

Ms Denise Phua graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Political Science from NUS in 1983. The Mayor of Central Singapore District and MP for Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency (GRC), she is best known for her advocacy for those at risk of being left behind in Singapore. One of the key architects behind three 5-year Enabling Masterplans for the Disabled in Singapore, she is also the President of the Autism Resource Centre (Singapore) and Chairman of the Autism Association Singapore. She is Vice-Chairman of the Eden School board and supervises the Pathlight School – Singapore’s first autism special school which she co-founded. She is a member of the Government Parliamentary Committees (GPC) for Education and is a member of the GPC for Social and Family Development. 

Mr Low Thia Khiang 

Mr Low Thia Khiang graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Chinese Studies from NUS in 1981. He is a Singaporean former politician who served as Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party between 2001 and 2018. First elected as the MP for Hougang Single Member Constituency during the 1991 General Election, he became Secretary-General of the Workers’ Party on 27 May 2001. Mr Low stepped down as the MP for Aljunied GRC prior to the 2020 General Election, making him Singapore’s longest serving opposition MP with 29 years in service. 

Image source: NUS

The maid who was arrested on Thursday for the alleged murder of a 73-year-old man at a Bishan HDB unit, was charged in court earlier today (30 April).

The maid, 49-year-old Sumiyati, who is an Indonesian national, had allegedly murdered Mr Low Hoon Cheong, 73-years-old between the time of 4pm to 8.45pm.

The alleged murder purportedly occurred at a HDB unit on the 8th storey of Block 222 Bishan Street 23.

The Singapore Police said yesterday that investigations revealed that the maid was working in the deceased’s household.

The police were alerted to the incident on Thursday at about 8.50pm and the victim was found lying motionless inside the home.

He was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Recap

Two women were charged in court yesterday (29 April) for stealing 103 boxes of ART test kits worth about $14,000 and selling 44 boxes of them for $5,300.

The two women, Deng Xiangying, 27-years-old; and Audrey Sau Qi Ng, 24-years-old, were both charged with one count of dishonest misappropriation of property and laundering the benefits of criminal conduct.

Here is what the police said on Thursday

Two women, aged 24 and 27, will be charged in court on 29 April 2022 for their suspected involvement in a case of dishonest misappropriation and sale of antigen raid test (ART) kits from the Quick Test Centre (QTC) they were deployed at.

On 1 October 2021, the Police received a report that ART kits belonging to the Health Promotion Board were stolen from Tekka QTC Investigations revealed that the two women, who were deployed at the QTC, had allegedly misappropriated 103 boxes of ART kits from the QTC and sold 44 boxes of the misappropriated ART kits online for profit.

The duo will be charged with the offences of dishonest misappropriation of property with common intention under Section 403 read with Section 34 of the Penal Code, and for converting the stolen property as benefits from criminal conduct under Section 47(1)(b) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act (‘CDSA’) with Common Intention read with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

The Police take a serious view against any person involved in fraudulent or dishonest conduct. Offenders will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
28 April 2022 @ 2:20 PM

The Singapore Police Force said in a press release that a 34-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement in a spate of housebreaking cases.

Here is what the police said

The Police have arrested a 34-year-old man for his suspected involvement in a series of housebreaking cases.

On 26 April 2022 at about 12pm, the Police were alerted to a case of housebreaking at a commercial unit along 799 New Upper Changi. Cash amounting to at least $5,000 was purportedly stolen.

Through ground enquiries and with the aid of CCTV cameras, officers from Bedok Police Division established the identity of the man and arrested him on the same day at about 11.30pm. The man is also believed to be involved in two other reported cases of housebreaking in the vicinity of Bedok North Avenue 3, where laptops were purportedly stolen.

The man will be charged in court on 28 April 2022 with housebreaking, punishable under Section 451 of the Penal Code 1871. The offence carries an imprisonment term of up to 10 years and a fine.

The Police would like to advise all property owners to adopt the following crime prevention measures:

• Secure all doors, windows and other openings with good quality grilles and closed-shackle padlocks before leaving your premises unattended, even for a short while.
  
• Refrain from keeping large sums of cash and valuables in your premises; and
  
• Install a burglar alarm, motion sensor light and/or CCTVs to cover the access points into your premises. Ensure that they are tested periodically and are in good working condition.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
27 April 2022 @ 10:45 PM